Pulsating-current reciprocating electric-engine system



(No Model.)

0. J. VAN DEPOELE. PULSATING CURRENT REGIPROOATING ELECTRIC ENGINESYSTEM.

No. 455,520. Patented July 7,1891.

WDWINIW m: NORRIS PETERS 50., Puma-mum, WASHVNGTON, u. :24

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN, MASSACIIUSE'FS.

PULSATlNG-CURRENT REClPROCATlNG ELECTRIC-ENGINE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,520, dated July 7,1891. Original application filed March 23, 1889, Serial No. 304,544.Divided and this application filed June 26, 1889. Serial No. 315,579.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPulsating-Current Reciprocating Electric-Engine Systems, of which thefollowing is a description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawlngs, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This application is a division of my application filed March 23, 1889,Serial No. sown.

My invention relates to improvements in electric generators, moreespecially with referenee to the production of currents having a definedrise and fallthat is to say, intermittent or pulsating currentsforexample, such as are referred to in my patents, Nos. 400,809, datedApril 2, 1889, and 4.01331, dated April 9, 1889, and especially adaptedfor operating electro-magnetic reciprocating engines.

As set forth in my said patents, my improved eleetro-magneticreciprocating engines are operated synchronously witha generator orsource of defined currents, each current energizing a coil in the enginefor the purpose of producing the movements of the reciprocating portionthereof. Since the ra pidity of alternation in what are known asalternate currents in electric-lighting machines is altogether too greatand beyond the speed at which the piston of a direct-acting engine ofany size is required to be employed, and since it is impracticable tooperate known forms of electric-lightin g engines ata speed low enoughto accomplish my purpose, I have provided means whereby I am enabled toconvert the current-energy of an ordinary continuous-current armaturerotating at its most eiiicient speed into undulating or pulsatingcurrents having any desired rapidity of succession.

My invention is embodied in an electric machine having an armature ofany desired type and a commutator for straightening the currentstherein, stationary commutatorbrushes upon the normal line ofcommutation and in electrical connection with the exteriorworking-circuit, and an additional traveling (No model.)

commutator brush or brushes in circuit with the return terminal orterminals of the working-circuit, and arranged to be moved around thecommutator with a degree of rapidity corresponding to the number ofcurrent-waves required to be delivered to the working-circuit, which mayvary from several hundred per minute to zero. The motor-coils of thereciprocating engines are connected in circuit with the stationary andmoving brushes, and the rise and fall of potential in saidworking-circuits caused by the movement of the traveling brush orbrushes toward and away from the points of maximum and zeroelectro-motive force upon the commutator cause a corresponding rise andfall of energy in the working-circuits of reciprocating engines,resulting in the movement of their reciprocating parts in synchronismwith the movements of the traveling comm utator-ln'ushes.

The mode of operation and arrangement of parts will be fully hereinafterdescribed, and referred to in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in diagram, showing agenerator embodying my invention and two working-circuits therefor,including two reciprocating electro-inagnetic engines. Fig. 2 is a topplan View of a portion of the generator seen in Fig. l and showing alsothe motor and connections for operating the rotating brushes at anydesired speed. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view, partly in elevation,showing a generator with working-circuits therefor and indicating therise and fall of potential in the respective circuits.

As indicated, A 13 are the polar extensions .Of the field-magnet systemof the generator, and between which an armature O of the Gramme or anyother suitable type is rotatively mounted. The core D of the armature iswound with continuous conductor (7, connected by terminals (1' with thesegments of a sectional commutator If], as in the wellknown Grammearmature. The face of the commutator E is made long enough to receivetwo sets of brushes, one (the main) being stationary and the othermovable, and by stationary is meant remaining in the desired positionupon the line of commutation, al-

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2 esasao though they will of course be adjustably sustained, and saidbrushes can be single or double.

F F are the stationary brushes, desirably of carbon. The brushes F F areplaced upon the line of commutation and occupy that part of thecommutator nearest the armature. Upon the armature-shaft O is placed arotating sleeve f, insulated from the shaft and provided with a pair ofmetallic arms G G, extending rearward to opposite points below and abovethe commutator, and at the extremities of said arms a second set ofcommutator-brushes g g are secured. The brushholders G G are carefullyinsulated each from the others upon their common bearing f, and adjacentto the axis of each is located I a collector-ring q one of said ringsbeing in electrical connection with the brush g and the other with thebrush g. Collector-brushes H H bear upon the collector-rings g 9/ andfrom said brushes extend working-conductors h h, as will appear.

The sleeve f, together with the brush-holders and collector-ringsattached thereto, is mechanically rotated, thereby causing thecommutator-brushes g g to travel around the commutator toward and awayfrom points of maximum to zero electro-motive force, and to collect orconvey currents of a duration dependent upon the speed with which thesaid brushes are moved about the commutator. The sleeve f may be rotatedin any convenient manner, the specific means being immaterial; but inFig. 2 it is shown as provided with a worm-wheel I, which is engaged bya worm 'L' upon a driving-shaft I. The shaft 1 may be an extension ofthe armature-shaft of an electric motor J, bywhich the shaft, wormwheel,sleeve, and connnutator-brushes may be rotated at any desired speed,suitable means being provided for regulating the motor.

The Workingcircuits in Fig. 1 are from main brush F of the generator byconductor 7', extending therefrom to the motor-coil K of a reciprocatingengine, returning by conductor h, connected to moving brush H. Thesecond working-circuit from the said generator is from brush F byconductor j to motorcoil L of a second reciprocating engine, returningthrough conductor h to moving brush H.

The reciprocating engines here shown may be of a type seen in my patent,No. 400,809, referred to-that is to say, each having a single motor-coilfor moving the piston in one directionthe reverse movement beingoffected by a suitable spring 7a as indictated, or vice versa. Withinthe said coils K L are arranged non-magnetic casings M and magneticpistons N, adapted to be reciprocated within the casings M under theinfluence of the motor-coils and the compression of their spring 70 7t.

As here indicated, the motor-coils constitute two working-circuits forthe generator;

but the said circuits might be extended and include a plurality ofreciprocating engines or other motors, according to the capacity of thegenerator, two only being shown by way of illustration. Assuming thatthe armature C is capable of furnishing current of the desired constantpotential, the intensity of which may vary with the circuits andconnections arranged as shown in Fig. 1., if the potential between F Fis, for example, one hundred volts, the voltage between F and H and F Hwill depend upon the relative positions of the moving brushes H H withregard to the main brushes F F, and currents will rise and fallsimultaneously in the respective circuits and motor-coils K L, themaximum currents being given when the largest number of sections arebetween the brushes F H F H, the said currents rising and falling in thesolenoids K L with the rotation of the moving brushes.

The foregoing refers to two separate working-circuits each supplied byone-half of the armature, the currents rising and falling in thecorresponding parts of the said circuits at the same time. I have showna single-coil engine in each circuit; but by dividing the circuits, asshown in Fig. 3, double-coil engines can be used. In said Fig. 3 theconductor extending from the main brush F, is bifurcated, one part qleading to one motor-coil Q, and the other 0 to motor-coil R of separatedouble-coil engines comprising motor-coils Q Q and R R. The conductor 7"from main brush F likewise divides and extends by conductor q tomotor-coil Q, and by conductor r to motor-coil R, returning from saidcoils to the moving brushes by conductors g 0 connected, respectively,to brushes H H. \Vith the positions shown the currents are maximum incoils Q R, the succeeding half-rotation of the brushes H H reversing theconditions. WVith this construction and arrangement it will beunderstood that the rise and fall of potential in the working-circuitswill, with proper circuits and 0011- nections, result in alternatelyreducing the power in the motor-coils of reciprocating engines, whichwill thereby be caused to operate in synchronism with the source ofsupplycurrent and perform useful work.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. The combination, with a source of pulsating or rising and fallingcurrents, of an electro-magnetic reciprocating engine having a motorcoil or coils and a magnetic piston moved within the coil or coils insynchronism with the rise and fall of energy therein, substantially asdescribed.

The combination, with a source of pulsating or rising and fallingcurrents, of two working-circuits connected therewith, anelectro-dynamic reciprocating engine having two motor-coils, one in eachworking-circuit, and means for directing the flow of current in therespective coils, substantially as described.

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sating or rising and falling currents, of two working-circuits connectedtherewith, an elec- 1 5 tro-dynan'iic reciprocating engine having twomotor-coils, one in each working-circuit, and means for regulating theHow of currents in the respective coils,substantial1y as described.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my sig 2o nature in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. STAGG, EDW. D. FLOYD.

